Protest hits siege of Gaza

Palestinian families and solidarity activists carrying flags, banners and signs filled the sidewalk in front of a busy mini-mall in an Arab-American community in Anaheim, Calif., on July 28 at an emergency protest demanding an end to the brutal six-week U.S.-backed Israeli siege on Gaza. The street rally brought public attention to the fate of 6,000 Palestinians stranded at the Rafah border checkpoint, the main route for Palestinians in Gaza to reach work, food and other basic resources.

Mustafa Barghouti, leader of Al-Mubadara in Palestine, spoke to the Anaheim crowd by phone. Also speaking at the rally, chaired by Muna Coobtee of the ANSWER coalition, were Nader Abuljebain of the National Council of Arab Americans, Lily Karam of the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, Zahi Damuni of Al-Awda San Diego and John Parker of the International Action Center.

Both the September 22-29 encampment and demonstrations, in Los Angeles and Washington, to stop the war against Iraq, and the Oct. 27 anti-war protest were announced as continuing steps in the mobilization against occupation and war.

The rally was sponsored by the Palestinian American Women’s Association; Al-Awda Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego Chapters; Palestine Aid Society; National Council of Arab Americans; Free Palestine Alliance; Palestine National Initiative (Al-Mubadara); Al-Bireh Society; Arab Community Center of the Inland Empire; ANSWER Coalition; Union of Palestinian Women; Campaign to End Israeli Apartheid, Bethlehem Association, Birzeit Society. And endorsed by the Council on American Islamic Relations-LA; Women In Black-LA, International Action Center-LA; and the March 25 Coalition.

—Maggie Vascassenno